Meduza authors are pushing the malware as a subscription-based service, offering plans for 1-month, 3-month, and lifetime access.
Crimeware-as-a-Service (CaaS) operations have become the latest fad in the world of cybercrime, and the Meduza Malware is the newest weapon added to its ever-increasing arsenal.
Uptycs Threat researchers report that Meduza Stealer is under active development and boasts comprehensive data-stealing capabilities, along with advanced detection evasion techniques.
How Was Meduza Stealer Discovered?
Uptycs researchers discovered the Meduza malware while monitoring Telegram channels and Dark Web forums. Initial examination revealed that the stealer was developed by someone with the username Meduza. According to the malware admin, Meduza does not perform ransomware operations and only functions as an information stealer.
Meduza Targets- Windows Systems and Browsers
The malware is designed to target Windows-based systems and organizations. Currently, it targets ten countries and pilfers a wide range of system and browser data, from login credentials to browsing history, bookmarks, etc.
It also targets data stored by 2FA, crypto wallets, and password managers. All types of extensions are vulnerable to Meduza. Check out the list of countries it can and cannot target:
- Russia
- Kazakhstan
- Belarus
- Georgia
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Armenia
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Tajikistan
What Makes Meduza Unusual?
Researchers noted that it has a “crafty” operational design since, unlike other common malware, Meduza’s binary doesn’t use obfuscation techniques, making it virtually undetectable. The malware administrator has employed highly sophisticated marketing tactics to generate hype and trust for Meduza malware.
“In a calculated move to gain trust and confidence, they have initiated static and dynamic scans of the Meduza stealer file using some of the industry’s most reputable antivirus software. Screenshots were then shared, demonstrating that this potent malware could evade detection by these top-tier antivirus solutions,” researchers wrote in the report published on June 30th, 2023.
This malware is being fiercely marketed across different cybercrime forums and Telegram channels. Most antivirus software cannot detect its binary dynamically and statically, making the situation much more problematic for security researchers. The pricing model for Meduza is the real game-changer.
The admin offers numerous subscription packages, such as 1-month, 3-month, and lifetime access plans, at competitive prices ($199 per month, $399 for a 3-month subscription, and $1,199 for a lifetime license).
Moreover, the stolen data is available on a user-friendly web panel. Subscribers can create customized binaries and access, download, and delete sensitive data, including IP addresses, geographical data, stored cookies, wallets, passwords, and OS build names directly from the panel.
Meduza Data Stealing Capabilities
After infecting the machine, the malware scans for geolocation data against a predefined list of excluded countries and aborts operations if a match is found. Meduza malware connects to its operator’s C2 server if it doesn’t match. It starts stealing data only after the connection is established. It steals data from various Windows APIs, including GetUserName, GetComputerName, GetCurrentHWProfile, and EnumDisplayDevices.
It also collects system build CPU computer details, execute path, geolocation, OS, RAM, hardware IDs, GPU, TimeZone, screenshot resolution, username, etc. It also collects browser info, miner’s registry info, password manager info, and installed games details, probably to gain extensive financial and personal data.
Meduza comes with a predefined browser list and checks the User Data folder to get browser-related data such as cookies, history, web data, login data for accounts, and local state. It also steals Telegram Desktop app data from these Windows Registry paths:
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{53F49750-6209-4FBF-9CA8-7A333C87D1ED}_is1HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{C4A4AE8F-B9F7-4CC7-8A6C-BF7EEE87ACA5}_is1What’s worse, Meduza malware is also capable of collecting data from 19 password managers, stealing clients, Discord, 95 web browsers, and 76 cryptocurrency wallet extensions.
To stay protected, you must keep the OS, browsers, and installed applications updated so that vulnerabilities are time patched and use stronger passwords.
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